Five-year deal to boost tourism, heritage conservation and creative industries
Ghana and the Republic of Korea are set to deepen their cultural and tourism relations under a five-year partnership valued at approximately US$4.5 million.
The initiative, which focuses on tourism, culture and the creative arts, is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, improve the management and presentation of Ghana’s heritage assets, enhance visitor experiences and create new opportunities for creative practitioners, tourism operators and local communities.
The partnership forms part of efforts to use culture and tourism as strategic tools for economic development, international cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, welcomed the financial and technical support from the Korean government, describing the collaboration as an important opportunity for Ghana to strengthen its cultural institutions and maximise the potential of its heritage resources.
She noted that Ghana possessed a rich cultural heritage with enormous potential to attract visitors, promote national identity and generate economic opportunities, but stressed the need for improved professional management, conservation and storytelling.
According to her, recent professional training provided to Ghanaian managers of heritage sites through the Korea-supported cooperation had laid an important foundation for improving the conservation, interpretation and presentation of the country’s monuments and traditions.
She said the training had equipped Ghanaian heritage managers with knowledge and skills that could contribute to the transformation of heritage sites into more attractive and sustainable tourism products.
People-to-people exchange.
The Minister also called for greater people-to-people exchanges between Ghana and South Korea, saying such interactions would enable both countries to learn from each other’s strengths while deepening mutual understanding.
She said Ghana could draw valuable lessons from Korea’s reputation for discipline, innovation, technological advancement and strong work ethic.
At the same time, she said, Ghana had much to offer the world through its vibrant cultural expressions, music, dance, festivals, traditional knowledge, fashion, cuisine, crafts and other creative forms.
Hon. Gomashie said the partnership should therefore go beyond financial assistance to promote meaningful cultural exchanges that would allow citizens of both countries to experience and appreciate each other’s heritage.
She emphasised that cultural diplomacy had the potential to create lasting relationships among nations because it brought people together through shared experiences, creativity and mutual respect.
Korean commitment
The Korean delegation, led by Jinsung Jeon of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, expressed appreciation for Ghana’s warm hospitality and the reception accorded them by the Minister.
Mr. Jeon reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to working with Ghana to establish lasting bridges between the two countries through culture, tourism and creative cooperation.
The delegation’s engagement with Ghana is expected to contribute to the strengthening of existing relations between the two countries while opening new avenues for collaboration in heritage management, tourism development and the creative economy.
The partnership is also expected to facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices, particularly in areas where Korea has developed significant international experience.
Turning heritage into economic opportunities
The five-year collaboration comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to position tourism and the creative economy as important drivers of economic growth and job creation.
With its castles and forts, traditional festivals, cultural landscapes, music, dance, arts and crafts, Ghana has a wide range of cultural assets that can be developed into competitive tourism products.
The partnership is expected to support efforts to package these resources in ways that improve their appeal to both domestic and international visitors while ensuring that their historical and cultural significance is preserved.
It could also provide opportunities for artists, tour operators, heritage managers, cultural entrepreneurs and communities located around heritage sites to participate more actively in the tourism value chain.
Beyond the economic benefits, the initiative is expected to strengthen Ghana’s ability to tell its own cultural stories to a global audience.
The collaboration between Ghana and South Korea therefore represents more than a financial commitment. It signals a shared determination to use culture and tourism to build stronger institutions, promote creativity, preserve heritage and deepen friendship between the two nations.
As the five-year partnership unfolds, stakeholders are expected to work towards ensuring that Ghana’s cultural assets are not only preserved for future generations but also transformed into vibrant, sustainable and economically productive tourism experiences.
The initiative is also expected to showcase the distinctive strengths of Ghanaian and Korean cultures on the global stage, while creating a stronger foundation for long-term cooperation between the two countries.
